Here's how candidates in some of the toughest Senate races compare on key tech issues

Former presidential candidate Marco Rubio, who's now fighting for his Florida Senate seat.
AP Photo/Paul Sancya
Most of the Senate candidates on this year's ballot don't exactly make the grade when it comes to technology issues.

A study from Tusk Ventures and Engine Advocacy hands out report cards to candidates in some of the tightest 2016 Senate races. The study graded 22 candidates vying for 11 of the 34 Senate seats up for grabs on Tuesday, eliminating the races that are likely to be total blowouts.

The candidates were graded on their actions — like votes, letters, and the co-sponsorship of bills — as well as their public statements, and were evaluated in four categories: broadband access & infrastructure, intellectual property, data security & privacy, and talent. Candidates without a record on an issue were given an "incomplete" for that category.

No candidate got a perfect grade on the issues, and some candidates have no history of speaking about or voting on tech at all — although it's worth noting that several of the Senate candidates have never run for office before or are somewhat new to politics. The category of data privacy and security — a key issue in a year when hacking and cybersecurity has been on the forefront — had some of the worst grades, and only one candidate got an A.

Florida: Marco Rubio (R) vs. Patrick Murphy (D)

Chris Keane/Reuters; Steve Cannon/AP; Business Insider

Rubio

Telecom: D

Intellectual property: C

Data privacy/security: D

Talent: A

"Rubio supports patent reform and is strong on workforce and skills issues... he has consistently supported high-skilled immigration reforms, co-sponsoring both the I-Squared Act and the Startup Act. But his assertion that net neutrality will give power over the Internet to 'an unelected, unaccountable board' is patently false... and his staunch support of government surveillance programs raises red flags."

Indiana: Todd Young (R) vs. Evan Bayh (D)

Darren Cummings/AP; Leigh Vogel/Getty Images; Business Insider

Young

Telecom: Incomplete

Intellectual property: A

Data privacy/security: Incomplete

Talent: Incomplete

"He has been an ally on IP-related issues, voting 'yes' on both the America Invents Act and the Innovation Act and opposing SOPA. However, Young was docked points for his strong opposition to net neutrality."

Bayh

Telecom: Incomplete

Intellectual property: Incomplete

Data privacy/security: Incomplete

Talent: Incomplete

"...his positions on most of the issues evaluated for this scorecard are unclear. He has made some positive efforts around broadband investment: during his time as governor of Indiana, he awarded $3 million in grants to help public schools get better access to the internet."

5/

Missouri: Roy Blunt (R) vs. Jason Kander (D)

Molly Riley/AP; Sid Hastings/AP; Business Insider

Blunt

Telecom: D-

Intellectual property: D

Data privacy/security: Incomplete

Talent: A

"...his positions on broadband are abysmal: he opposes net neutrality and has called on the FCC to reverse its decision to update the definition of broadband from 4 Mbps to 25 Mbps, essentially calling for lower broadband speeds."

Kander

Telecom: Incomplete

Intellectual property: Incomplete

Data privacy/security: Incomplete

Talent: Incomplete

"He has pushed back on Blunt's position on broadband speeds, arguing that 'Missourians deserve access to the Internet as a basic, essential utility, and our leaders in Washington need to do everything they can to help expand and improve broadband speeds—especially in rural areas.'"

6/

New Hampshire: Kelly Ayotte (R) vs. Maggie Hassan (D)

Mike Segar/Reuters; Jim Cole/AP; Business Insider

Ayotte

Telecom: C-

Intellectual property: B-

Data privacy/security: D+

Talent: A

"Sen. Ayotte earns points for her votes in favor of several bills key to the tech and startup community, such as the USA Freedom Act and the America Invents Act. However, she is docked points for her staunch opposition to net neutrality, her views on encryption, and for initially co-sponsoring PIPA (though she later withdrew support)."

Cortez Masto

Telecom: Incomplete

Intellectual property: Incomplete

Data privacy/security: Incomplete

Talent: Incomplete

"While Cortez Masto has pledged to 'ensure every rural community has access to high-speed broadband, and small businesses have access to necessary capital to keep and create jobs,' her positions on most of the issues we evaluated for this scorecard are unknown."

8/

North Carolina: Richard Burr (R) vs. Deborah Ross (D)

Chuck Barton/AP; Business Insider

Burr

Telecom: D-

Intellectual property: B+

Data privacy/security: F

Talent: Incomplete

"Burr has drawn the ire of the tech community in recent months for his efforts to undermine encryption by sponsoring a bill effectively requiring companies to decrypt communications for law enforcement."

Ross

Telecom: Incomplete

Intellectual property: Incomplete

Data privacy/security: Incomplete

Talent: Incomplete

"In response to Senator Burr's controversial encryption bill, Ross made a vague statement arguing that more debate on the 'complicated issue' is needed. She has said she would have supported the 2013 immigration bill that passed the Senate but has said little about high-skilled immigration specifically."

Strickland

Telecom: Incomplete

Intellectual property: Incomplete

Data privacy/security: Incomplete

Talent: Incomplete

"As governor of Ohio, Strickland led efforts to expand broadband access across the state. He has also supported education efforts that give students the 'critical skills necessary for the 21st century workplace' during his time as Governor of Ohio."

10/

Pennsylvania: Pat Toomey (R) vs. Katie McGinty (D)

Matt Rourke/AP; J. Scott Applewhite/AP; Business Insider

Toomey

Telecom: D

Intellectual property: B+

Data privacy/security: Incomplete

Talent: Incomplete

"Sen. Toomey opposed the USA Freedom Act and has been vocal in his opposition to net neutrality, hyperbolically and inaccurately calling it a 'massive government takeover.'"

McGinty

Telecom: Incomplete

Intellectual property: Incomplete

Data privacy/security: Incomplete

Talent: Incomplete

"She has said that she would have voted for the Senate's comprehensive immigration reform package that passed in 2013 and included a number of reforms to high-skilled immigration. She has made vague statements on the issue of encryption."

11/

Wisconsin: Ron Johnson (R) vs. Russ Feingold (D)

Scott Bauer/AP; Business Insider

Johnson

Telecom: D-

Intellectual property: C

Data privacy/security: A-

Talent: Incomplete

"Johnson's overall score is weighed down in large part by his low marks on telecom issues, as his opposition to net neutrality and the FCC's decision redefine broadband from 4 Mbps to 25 Mbps puts him at odds with the vast majority of the tech community."

Feingold

Telecom: A

Intellectual property: Incomplete

Data privacy/security: A

Talent: B+

"Feingold positioned himself as one of the strongest proponents of digital security and privacy, recognizing the value of strong encryption to the internet economy as far back as 1998 and presciently anticipating the wide-ranging negative consequences of the government's surveillance programs. He continues to argue that forced 'backdoors' would be a huge mistake."